Why You Should Seek Medical Care for Every Dog Bite

 Posted on July 14, 2022 in Premises Liability

Getting attacked by a dog can be terrifying. A dog may seem perfectly calm or even happy one moment, only to turn into a snarling beast the next. Children are some of the most common victims of dog bites, in part because they may lack the skills needed to safely interact with a strange dog. Dog bites can be particularly harmful to young kids who may even be smaller than the animal. However, even adults should take a dog bite that breaks skin seriously and seek medical attention.

Even if the bite does not look too bad, it may require careful cleaning or preventative antibiotics. If you were not trespassing and did not provoke the dog, you can most likely recover compensation for any medical costs and more. 

4 Reasons to See a Doctor After a Dog Bite

Attempting to treat a dog bite at home has the potential to end badly. Boites can create deep puncture wounds, doing more damage than you can see right away. Seeking medical care for every dog bite is a good idea for these reasons:

• Infection potential - Anyone who has spent more than ten minutes around a dog can tell you that their mouths do not stay clean for long. Dogs’ teeth can have all sorts of nasty bacteria on them. When a dog bites, that bacteria can be pushed deep under a person’s skin. This can lead to serious infections, which can even result in amputation of the affected limb if treatment is not promptly sought. 
• Hidden damage - Even if it does not look like the wound will need stitching, there could be damage to muscles and tendons that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Aside from puncture wounds, dog bites can cause crush injuries. Especially if a hand or foot was bitten, a bone could have been broken. 
• Documentation - If you do ultimately decide to pursue compensation, it is best to have the injury documented right away. Medical documentation can show when the bite occurred, what damage was caused, and even help prove which dog bit you should the need arise. 
• Future safety - Reporting a dog bite can help protect others in the community from a dangerous dog. A dog who has bitten unprovoked is likely to repeat the action. When a bite is reported, the dog may be subject to restrictions like having to stay on its owner's property except for trips to the vet. 

The bottom line is that getting a dog bite checked and treated by a doctor can only help you. 

Call a Cook County Dog Bite Attorney

If you have been injured by a dog, Barrington Injury Attorneys may be able to recover compensation on your behalf. Our skilled Barrington dog bite lawyers will fight for you to receive every possible type of compensation. Contact us at 224-900-HURT for a free consultation. 

Source:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/if-a-dog-bites-you-do-these-7-things-now